Dermot O'Leary has hinted 'The X Factor' may not return until 2023.
Dermot O'Leary
The 47-year-old star - who first hosted ITV's singing competition in 2007 - has opened up on the talent show's hiatus and when fans can expect to see it back on air.
He told new! magazine: "I can't see it coming back this year. If it does come back, it'll be 2022 - maybe 2023."
And while viewers will be missing having the programme on air after its launch in 2004, Dermot admitted even though he's keeping busy he's still in the same boat.
He added: "You do miss it, definitely. You work with people for the best part of 10 years and you become a really tight team.
"And you do miss the buzz of a Saturday night show. There's something great about it.
"But I've just got to do my own stuff and then, if and when it comes back, then great."
Dermot - who hosts 'This Morning' alongside Alison Hammond every Friday - suggested he hasn't had much contact with 'X Factor' boss Simon Cowell while the show has been off air.
He laughed: "He doesn't have a phone, bearing in mind he's got, like, three PAs. But his PAs are all doing fine!"
Meanwhile, Dermot also weighed in on his own career and explained why his longevity is his greatest achievement.
Asked for a career highlight, he said: "Just having done 20 years continuously in the industry. And I want to carry on working. I rarely look back.
"I feel very proud of every show I've worked on, but 'T4' was a great thing for us at the time and we all cut our teeth there.
"'Big Brother' taught me how to do live television - and I was there four seven years.
"And then doing something like 'The X Factor' is something you always want to aspire to. I've been very blessed."
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